Newsletter Tuesday, October 15

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Residents of the Bayou State know that car insurance there can be costly—and it may be even higher if you have a speeding ticket on your record. Louisiana drivers with one or more speeding tickets are likely to see an increase in the rate they pay, but there is some good news: there are ways to mitigate your speeding ticket cost in Louisiana by using strategies that we outline below. If you’ve seen your rates increase because you have marks on your record, our guide offers information and tips for finding the cheapest insurance after a Louisiana speeding ticket.

How much is a speeding ticket in Louisiana?

So how much is a speeding ticket in Louisiana? Drivers in the Bayou State, like most, will first face speeding ticket fines. The cost of a speeding ticket in Louisiana varies depending on the county where the incident occurred and the speed the driver was going over the posted limit, but will generally be between $100-$300. Generally, here are the fines you can expect for speeding:

  • Driving 1-9 miles over the limit: $115 or more
  • Driving 10-14 miles over the limit: $215 or more
  • Driving 15-20 miles over the limit: $240 or more
  • Driving more than 20 miles over the limit: more than $240, and may include a court appearance

For another example, in Baton Rouge, speeding 1-30 miles over the limit will result in a fine of $144. Louisiana is one of the few states that does not use a points system that can lead to a license suspension after a certain number of violations.

Civil fines are not the only financial consideration, however. Based on October 2024 data sourced from Quadrant Information Services, our insurance editorial team discovered that the Louisiana speeding ticket cost also includes increased insurance premiums. While individuals with a clean driving record in the state pay an average of $3,696 for full coverage and $976 for state-mandated minimum coverage, after a speeding ticket those averages increase to $4,527 for full and $1,215 for minimum coverage insurance. 

The cheapest car insurance for Louisiana drivers with a speeding ticket 

After a speeding ticket, you may want to consider switching your car insurance to another company if you can find cheaper rates elsewhere. When considering a switch, you’ll pay attention to the rate, of course, but there may also be other factors you should consider, such as the number of available discounts, range of coverage options or digital capabilities. Based on our research, the companies below offer some of the cheapest coverage in Louisiana for drivers with a speeding ticket. 

Company Avg. full coverage rate before speeding ticket in LA Avg. full coverage rate after speeding ticket in LA % difference after speeding ticket
Southern Farm Bureau $2,724 $2,891 6%
USAA $2,948 $3,784 28%
Geico $2,993 $4,193 40%
Encompass $3,768 $4,337 15%
Farmers $3,993 $5,085 27%

What to do after a speeding ticket in Louisiana

It’s never a good thing to get a speeding ticket, but it doesn’t have to impact your insurance forever. How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in Louisiana? Generally, it will be noted on your driving record for three years—and that’s often how long it will take for your insurer to drop the higher cost after you are found guilty of speeding. But even before those three years are up, there are strategies you can use to get more affordable car insurance in Louisiana.

Get quotes from other car insurance companies

Since every insurer uses its own proprietary algorithms to determine rates, asking for quotes from a range of different companies is likely to give you a variety of rates. Obtaining quotes is not difficult. Most major insurers allow you to do so via their website, just by answering a few questions about you and your vehicle. It may be a good idea to follow up with a local agent, however, to be sure the quote is accurate and takes all potential discounts into consideration. 

When looking for the best car insurance in Louisiana after a ticket, make sure to pay attention to factors besides price, like the coverage options, endorsements and discounts available. Also consider looking into the company’s customer service reviews and financial strength ratings from third-party organizations like J.D. Power and AM Best.

Look for discounts

It’s common for insurers to offer discounts to policyholders, and many of them are easy to access. Qualifying for one or more could save you a percentage off your premium, helping to make up for any post-ticket increases. Here are a few of the more common ways to save with discounts in Louisiana:

  • Take a safe driver course: You can often earn a small discount by taking a defensive driving course. A state-mandated course can even result in the dismissal of your ticket from your driving record. These courses are held both online and in-person, and are generally inexpensive.
  • Sign up for a telematics program: If your insurer offers a telematics program, and you are a safe and careful driver, you may save up to 40 percent off your premium by allowing your insurer to monitor your driving in real time.
  • Earn a loyalty discount: Loyalty discounts take a range of forms. The most significant savings typically come from bundling your car and home policies. You may also be eligible for savings if you have more than one car insured on your policy. You may even earn a lower rate if you stay with the same carrier for a number of years.
  • Set up online payments: Using paperless billing, automatic payments, or payment-in-full can often save you some money.

Frequently asked questions

  • When looking for the best insurance company after a speeding ticket, you may want to start with the companies we’ve discussed above. Any of them may offer you affordable coverage with the features you need to have the best policy for your circumstances. One strategy is to ask for quotes from several of these companies, making sure you request the same level and type of coverage from each, so you can do an accurate comparison and determine who is able to offer you the lowest possible price.
  • No, there is no need to inform your insurer about your speeding ticket. Usually, your insurance company will review your driving record with the DMV when it’s time for you to renew your policy. At that point, they will see that you’ve been convicted of a moving violation and will adjust your rate accordingly.

  • There is no one company that always has the cheapest rates for all drivers. To find the company that will give you the most affordable rate, ask for quotes from some of the companies that are known for cheap car insurance to see which one offers you the best premium for your needs. You may also want to take other factors into consideration, such as discount offerings, customer satisfaction scores and financial strength ratings.
  • Not necessarily, although you may need to do a little additional work to find a company that is a good fit for your needs and is willing to work with you. Although a single ticket is unlikely to give an insurer pause, multiple tickets may place you in a high-risk category, and some insurers avoid writing policies for individuals in this category. If this is the case, however, and you are turned down for a policy by one insurer, don’t be discouraged, as you are likely to find a carrier that will write you an affordable policy by shopping around.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze October 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
  • $500 collision deductible
  • $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. 

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. 

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base) and single speeding ticket.

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